To help make life easier, we've researched and reviewed the best smart-home and automation gear. Keep your home safe with intelligent locks and security systems, and improve energy efficiency with smart light bulbs and thermostats. If you're new to automation, never fear—our picks are geared toward versatility and ease of use.

We tested the top five smart thermostats for over a month, and our pick is the simple-to-use, easy-to-integrate third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat. It outperforms the competition thanks to its automatic scheduling features, elegant design, and continually improving software, and integration with other smart home devices. Read More >

After 10 hours testing seven smart water sensors, the easy-to-use, reliable D-Link DCH-S160 Wi-Fi Water Sensor is the best DIY leak detector for most people. It will alert you long before a drip turns into a flood, and it doesn’t require a smart-home hub. Read More >

We spent 20 hours testing and found that the SkyBell HD—with good image quality and motion detection, plus an easy-to-use app—is the best smart doorbell camera. If you want to keep an eye on your front door, it will help you screen visitors, track packages, and deter criminals. Free cloud storage rounds out a solid overall package. Read More >